Conveying apparatus.



1 Patented luly I8, H399. T. J. VVOLLKMMER.

CONVEYING APPARAIUS.

(Nn Model.) (Application med mv. 22, was.)

mfen To r WMM ` l UNITED STATESI PATENT OFFICE;A

' Tnnononn J. VOLLKOMMER, or YoUNes'roWN, omo. p

CGNVEYINGk APPARATUS.

srncr'rIcATIoN forming para of Letters raient No. 629,14o, dated July1s, 1899.

I Application sit November 22.1898. 'sean No. ssmsafeamane andexactdescription, reference being had to '4 the accompanying drawingainwhich- 'Figure 1 is a plan view' of a plate-conveying table constructedVin accordance with my invention. Figs. i.` and 3 are .verticallongitudinal and cross sections, respectively, of the saine; and Fig. 4is an enlarged sectional view showin g in detail the valve .which isillustrated in Figs. Zand 3. Y l j In 'the variousy forms of myinvention I einploy vas-a means for-oating or iioating and conveyingmetal plates or strips jets of air, which are directed against theunderside thereof and'maintan or tend to maint in the saine insuspension solhat they may be moved f reely in their supportingsurface,or by ar'- ranging' the air-jets at an inclination the articles may notonly besupported, but may be given a forward impulse in the desireddirection,',tl1c `jets being controlled by valves arranged to be openedbythe article on the coni 1 My apparatus maybe used for metal plates,

resents a box, which constitutes the body of the conveying-table and hasan air-inlet 5, through which compressed air may be supplied ,to itsinterior. Itsysurface is alsoprovided with perforations 6, from whichthe compressed aircntcring through the opening 5 will owin. jets. If nowa metal sheet be placedon the box 4, the air escaping through thejetopening 6 andrplayiug on the under surface thereof will tend to raisethe asaine from the surface of the box, enabling the sheet to be pulledover the surface with .'v'ery' little eiort,

'j ust as metal sheets are pulled or pushed. over the caster-tablescommon in plate-mills.` Any number of these boxes or tablesj: may be.placed together, so as to constitute a conveying-table of the desiredsize. f

To A'prevent useless was-te of air from those oftheyjebopenings 6 whichare not covered.

by the plate, I use the valve arrangement illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and4. For this purpose I prefer to make the perforations on the inner sideof thetop plate of the box 4 flaring, so as to 'afford seats forballvalves '7, which are backed by suitable springs 8 and projectsomewhat above tlietop surface of the box, as

shown in Figs. 2 and et, Normally these halls close theopenings 6 andprevent the escape of air; but when the plate is laid upon the top ofthe box its weight will press Adown' the balls, thus unseating them andpermitting the air to escape through the openings and to act asabovedescribed. The perforations may l y be inclined instead of at rightangles to the surface of the table and provided with snit- `able valves,the jets-v in such case movingor aiding in moving the article over thetable. 'Illu-:apparatus can thus be used as an eclent substitute forconveying-tables provided with feed-rolls. i I y An important feature ofmy invention is that the air, in addition to supporting the strip or inthe following claims the skilled mechanic may make many changes in theform and arrangement of the parts without departure from my invention,sincev What I claim is K 1. .A conveying apparatus or table havingupwardlyfdirect'ed jets, means for delivering. fluid therethronglrtoimpinge upon articlesl placed thereon, and valves closing said jets andadapted to be opened by the article placed' upon theconveyer,substantially as described. 2. Conveying apparatuscompr'singatable having `jet-openings, and valves closing the saine andprotruding beyond the surface of theI table, said Valves beingadapted tobe engaged by a superimposed article and to be opened thereby,substantially'as described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand.` Y THEO'. J. YOLLKOMMER. Witnesses:

L. W. RAT/'Fia- KATE AK mL'rv.

